Bakhtiari carpet

Definition

Village and tribal carpets from the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari region, best known for the garden (khesti) design of repeated panels.

History

Bakhtiari carpets come from villages in the Chaharmahal valley and from Bakhtiari tribal groups; they became widely exported in the 20th century.

Dates and attributions here summarise common positions in the literature and are under editorial review; they are not definitive.

Technique

Usually symmetrical knots on a cotton foundation, with thick wool pile. The khesti ('brick') layout divides the field into squares or diamonds with trees and flowers.

Collecting and identification

Check the back for knot clarity and the sides for original binding. Ask whether the rug is village-made or from a larger workshop.

This guidance is educational only and is not an authentication or valuation service.

Photographs

No photograph is shown yet: we have not found a clean, openly licensed image without watermarks. We would rather show none than a questionable one.

Gallery

Images are representative examples, not evidence for the sample marketplace records. Their sources and permission status are listed in the photography credits.

Marketplace

No objects of this craft are currently listed.

Related knowledge

Sources & references

• Book: Wulff, H. E. The Traditional Crafts of Persia. MIT Press, 1966.
• Institution: Encyclopaedia Iranica, relevant entries (online edition, accessed 2026-09-24).

Where origins, dates or symbolism are contested, this entry states the competing readings rather than choosing between them. Editorial analysis is not presented as documented fact.